Certified Medical Assistant Courses
How to Pick the Best One Near Smyrna Georgia

It’s time to choose and enroll in a medical assistant program near Smyrna GA in order to get the proper training to build a career in the rewarding field of medicine. But just how do you go about comparing and evaluating schools so that you subsequently enroll in the right one? When looking for medical assistant schools, the majority of students begin by zeroing in on the ones that are closest to their homes with the lowest tuition. While cost and location are very important, such things as accreditation, job assistance and internship programs are critical issues also. You may decide to look into a few online medical assistant programs as an alternative also (more on that later). Regardless of your leaning toward either online or on campus scholastics, the central point is that you must perform your due diligence prior to selecting a school. And to help you with that process, we have included a few questions that you should ask each of the colleges on your "maybe" list. But prior to starting that review, let's talk a little bit about the role of a medical assistant and the type of training and credentials that are available.

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Medical Assistant Job Duties 

The role of a medical assistant can be diverse as well as demanding. Essentially their function is to make sure that the Smyrna GA hospitals, clinics and other healthcare centers where they work run efficiently. Depending on the size or type of facility, they may be more of a clinical assistant, an administrative assistant, or in smaller practices both. They are responsible for giving direct assistance to the nurses, doctors and other medical professionals but can also be found performing duties at the front desk or in an office. A few of the potential responsibilities of a medical assistant include:

• Completing insurance forms and filing claims
• Scheduling and confirming appointments
• Taking vital signs and weighing patients
• Collecting blood and other fluid and tissue specimens
• Preparing rooms and instruments for doctors
• Supplying general support during examinations and procedures

Even though medical assistants may carry out almost any activity they are qualified to under Georgia law, some prefer to specialize in a particular area and earn certification. Two of the options available are for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).

Medical Assistant Training Programs

Compared to many other medical professionals, medical assistants are not required to become certified, licensed, or to obtain a college degree. However, a number of Smyrna GA health care employers prefer to hire graduates of an accredited medical assistant training program (we'll cover accreditation later ) that have earned certification. There are basically 2 options provided for a formal education. The first and fastest path to becoming a medical assistant is to earn a diploma or a certificate. These programs typically take about one year to finish, some as little as 6 to 9 months. They are designed to teach the basics of medical assisting and ready graduates for entry level positions. The second option is to earn an Associate Degree, which are typically two year programs available at community and junior colleges together with technical and vocational schools. They are more expansive in design than the certificate or diploma programs, and include liberal arts courses in addition to the medical assistant courses. They frequently have a practical element requiring an internship with a local medical facility. Associate Degrees are routinely a pre-requisite for and credits can be applied to a 4 year Bachelor's Degree in Medical Assistant Studies or a similar field.

Medical Assistant Certification Programs

As stated previously, certification is not a legal requirement, but is a good option for graduates who want to advance their careers. Not only will it help in securing employment after graduation, but it might also help with preliminary salary negotiations. Some possible Smyrna GA medical employers just will not hire a medical assistant that has not attained accredited formal training or certification. One of the most popular and perhaps the most highly regarded certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In order to sit for the CMA exam, a candidate must be a graduate or will graduate within thirty days from an accredited medical assistant program. Other certifications are offered also, including the CMAA and the CCMA that we previously mentioned which are offered by the NHA.

Medical Assistant Online Training

There are numerous accredited medical assistant programs available online also. They are an excellent alternative for students who might not have time to go to classes on campus but could work them in if attended at home. This is a particularly good solution for students who continue working full-time while earning their degree or certificate. As an additional benefit, some online programs have cheaper tuitions than the more conventional on campus options. Ancillary costs such as for textbooks, commuting and school supplies might be lessened as well. But keep in mind that all requirements for practical training or internships must still be fulfilled, but they can typically be carried out in Smyrna GA area medical care facilities. If you can earn a degree without the formal structure of attending supervised classes on campus, then this mode of receiving your training might be the ideal choice for you. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything needed to attain proficiency to work as a medical assistant is furnished.

Points to Ask Medical Assistant Colleges

Prior to assessing your medical assistant school options, you have to determine which kind of credential you would like to attain, and if you want to attend classes on campus or online at home. As soon as those selections have been made, you can start the process of comparing medical assistant schools. As we covered at the opening of this article, some potential students limit their searches to the colleges that are closest to Smyrna GA with the most affordable tuition. Although location and cost are significant qualifiers, they are by no means the only ones. There are several additional factors that you need to examine when assessing schools. To help you with that process, following are a few questions that you need to ask about all of the programs you are considering before making your ultimate selection.

Is the Medical Assistant College Accredited? There are a number of good reasons to verify that the school you choose is accredited. To begin with, accreditation helps ensure that the education you receive will be both comprehensive and of the highest quality. Next, if you intend to become certified, you need to enroll in an accredited program. Two of the accepted agencies for accreditation are the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). If your program is not accredited by either of these organizations, you will not be allowed to take the CMA exam. Also, if you intend on obtaining a student loan or financial assistance, they are often not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, as previously mentioned, many prospective Smyrna GA employers will not employ a medical assistant who has not graduated from an accredited college.

What is the Program's Passage Percentage? Most of the accredited medical assistant colleges develop their programs to prep students to pass one or more certification exams. To start with, you need to determine which of the certifications the schools you are reviewing are preparing their students to take. If you are interested in taking the CMA for example, then of course you will want to choose a program focused on that certification. Second, ask what the school's passage rate is for the certification and compare it to the national average. Doing this is just one of the methods to help assess the quality of a school's program. Naturally programs with low rates are those that you will prefer to eliminate.

Which Credentials are Provided? As we covered earlier, there are essentially two routes to getting medical assistant training. You can enroll in a diploma or certificate program and obtain entry level training in the fastest amount of time, starting at just 6 months, however the average is closer to one year. Or you can opt to obtain an Associate Degree and receive a broader education that will take approximately 2 years to accomplish in a community college or trade school. Whatever program you decide to enroll in, make sure that the schools you are reviewing provide the kind of program you have an interest in.

Are Internships Available? A large number of medical assistant schools sponsor internship programs with Smyrna GA area healthcare providers. They are an excellent way to receive hands-on clinical training and experience. They can also assist students build relationships within the Smyrna health care community. And as an additional benefit, they are an advantage on resumes and for job interviews too.

Is Job Placement Support Offered? Getting that very first job may be a daunting task for medical assistant school graduates unless they obtain some assistance from a job placement program. Verify that the colleges you are researching offer job placement assistance in the Smyrna GA area and ask what their placement rate is. If a college has a higher job placement rate for its graduates, it indicates that it has a good reputation within the healthcare community. It also suggests that it has a wide network of employers to help place students in jobs.

How Big are the Classes? Class size can be an indication of how much individual instruction you will receive throughout your training. Smaller classes and classes with a higher teacher to student ratio are more prone to offer increased access to teachers and one-on-one interaction. If possible, try to attend a few classes before selecting a program to observe what the teaching atmosphere is like and how much attention the students get.

Is Class Scheduling Accessible? If you plan on attending a medical assistant school while you continue working full-time, it's important that the program you choose offers classes that accommodate your schedule. If you have to attend classes at night or on weekends near Smyrna GA, verify that those times are available. You might be able to fit your classes in more conveniently with an online program, but you will also need to schedule any internships or practical training that will be required. Additionally, ask what the policy is for making up classes that you might have to miss due to work, illness or family issues.

Find Out How to Study to Become a CMA in Smyrna

Enroll in the Best Smyrna Medical Assistant School

It's imperative to begin your new career on the right foot by selecting a medical assistant school that will furnish the right training. Whether you're goal is to begin a career in healthcare starting out as a medical assistant or to practice medical assistance as your life long career, you need to get the right information on available programs prior to making your selection. There are such a large number of colleges offering training these days that you can make a decision based on your individual circumstances and personal preferences. And as we have addressed in this article, verify that the program you pick is accredited by a recognized agency, such as the CAAHEP. This is especially critical if you anticipate taking the CMA certification exam. Regardless of the kind of credential that you plan to earn or if you have decided to attend either an online or on-campus school, make sure to ask the questions we have supplied in order to evaluate programs and make an informed decision. And by picking the ideal program you can ultimately start a fulfilling career as a medical assistant in Smyrna Georgia.

 

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